Electricity meter



July 25, 1933. A. L. EMENS ELECTRICITY METER Filed Sept; 24, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 1 21 25 23 fllbeifllmem w a m a N m P 4 m 2,. a 2K 9 July25, 1933. .A, L, EVMENS 1,919,214

ELECTRICITY METER Filed Sept. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snoentor fill/.41 10 Gttorneg July 25, 1933. A, EMENS 1,919,214

ELECTRICITY METER Filed Sept. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3maentorattorney Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I ALBERT L.EIENB, 0] LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOE TO DUNCAN ELECTRIC MANU-I'AGI'UEING COIPANY, OF LA FAYETTE,

INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ELECTRICITY METER Application medSeptember 24, 1931.

My invention relates to electricity meters of the general type disclosedand claimed in my prior application Serial Number 446,036 and of wh1chmy present application is a continuation in part.

It is the purpose of my present inventhe base and correct ositioning ofparts car-- ter casing for the purpose of interfering with the pro r oeration of the-meter; or to cause the crib e member-of the bayonet lockto become permanently distorted so that the cover can be easily raisedat will for insertion of a meter tampering element and said elementsubsequently removed and the cover returned to its normal lockedposition without leaving any-readily observable evitdlence that themeter has been tampered w1 Furthermore, my invention contemplates theprovision of means forpreventing relative. displacement of the elementsof the bayonet lock out of operative relation when the cover is lockedto the base and an outward radial ry is exerted. upon the element of theock which is carried by the metal band of the cover.

My invention also aims to provide an improved'method of a plying to themeter cover the usual metal is band which telescopes over the base.Heretofore, such bands have been formed by pressed endless rings.

Serial no. 504,945.

and the use of such rings does not permit of suflicient tolerance inmanufacture as to the diameter and circumference of the cover. In mymethod I build up the band upon the cover by securing a tie-plate, inthe present instance in the form of a combined tie plate and metersealing bracket, to one end of a metal strip, encircling the coverwith-the strip, and then securing the other end of the strip to thetielate and thus.

completing the formation 0 the band and its application to the cover.This method enables me to use a brass band at a cost no greater than asteel band and in addition to use covers whose diameters andcircumferences vary more than itis possible to have them vary when apressed rin is used.

In the drawings chosen to illustrate my invention, the scope whereof isset forth in the appended claims,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a meter embodymg my invention, thecover, being broken away,"and in locked position on the meter base;

Figure 2, an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.;

-.-Figure 3, a section on the line 3--3 of Fi re 1;

igure 4, a fra wardlyfrom the interior of the cover and base and showingthe status of the bayonet lock between the base and cover when thelatter has been rotated to locked position on the cover;

Figure 5, a section on the line 5-5 of V Figure 6, a view similar toFigure 4 with the cover about to be rotated to locked position on thebase;

Figure 7, a section on the line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8, an inner view of the metal cover band forming strip with thebayonet tongue plates removed;

Figure 9, a view similar to Figure 7 with the bayonet tongue plates inplace;

Figure 10, a fragmental view of a meter casing disclosing an alternativeform of my invention;

ental view looking out i appear. The cover element of the meter casingis indicated at and is shown as cup shaped and formed of glass. The rimof the cover is provided with a circumscribing flange 16.

The cover 15 carries a metallicband 17 formed from a strip whose endsare connected by a sealing bracket 18, said bracket having a laterallydirected perforated win 19 for a purpose to be hereinafter referre to.The band 17 is formed to provide an interior groove 20 which receivesthe flange 16 to secure the band to the cover; The band 17 is alsoformed at opposite points to pro} vide corresponding recesses 21 in itsinner face, each of said recesses interruptmg a wall of the groove 20.The band 17 is fur-- 119 lock of which latter the arm forms the flex-'ible element. The edge 25' of the arm 25 is inclined and said edge andthe free end of the arm are spaced from the wall 26 of recess 21 toprovide a s ace 26' inwhich the pin element of the loc to be presentlreferred to, travels in securin and detac ing the cover 15 to and from te base ortion 11. It will be further noted that eac plate has a portion25" which rojects slightly into the groove 20 and sai portion, when thecover 15 is associated with the band 17, enters a recess 15" in the rimof the cover 15, so as to lock the band and cover against relativerotation. The band 17 telescopes 55 over the cylindrical portion 11 ofthebase which portion carries outwardly directed bayonet pins 27positioned to pass into respective spaces 26' when the cover is applied.After the cover is applied to the base CD rotation thereof in aclockwise direction will cause each pin .27 to coo erate with theinclined edge 25' of its re ated arm with the result that the cover iswedged upon a gasket 15 and tightly secured. to the base.

35 When this operation of locking the coverto wing 14 for a purpose thatwill presently the base is complete each arm 25 will. be flexed to theposition shown in Figure 4. Reverse rotation of the cover will releasethe latter from the base in a manner that displacement of the pin 27 emward pry of the band 17 when the cover is locked to the base.

In order that each arm 25 may be freely flexed over a range suflicientto allow for structural variations in manufacture and variations in thethickness of the gasket 15', but; limited in flexing beyond such range,upon attempt to force or pry the cover from the base when the cover islocked, I fixedlly mount on the arm 25 a rivet 25 the sha of whichextends through anopening 17' in the band 17. This openmg 17 is ofsuflicient area to allow limited lay of the body of the rivet from' aneutra position therein, as shown in Figure 6, before said vbody engagesthe wall of the opening and the extent of this permissible play issufficient to allow correct operation of the bayonet lock irrespectiveof variations in manufacture. However, if attempt is made to force orpry the cover from' the base when the cover islocked, the body of therivet 25 will engage the wall of the opening 17 and additional flexingof the arm 25 prevented. B thus limiting the flexing of the arm 25,provide a studless cover construction wherein it is impossible tosuccessfully tamper with a. contained meter for purposes of currenttheft without leaving readily observable evidence that the meter hasbeen tampered with. v

To seal the cover against rotation to release the bayonet locks betweenthe cover and base, I pivot on the terminal chamber 12-thr0ugh theinstrumentality of a common pivot pin 28, locking members 29 and 30..

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locking member 29 is pivoted to engagethrough the perforation of the wing 14, while the member 30 is pivotedto engage through the perforation of the wing 19, when a sealing wire isl oped through openings 29{ and 30' in t members 29 and 30 respectivelyand its ends secured together by a sealing slug 32, it being observedthat the seal thus formed also prevents removal of the terminal chambercover 13 without breaking the seal.

It is important also to note that in connecting the ends of the band 17by the sealing bracket 18, I rigidly attach the latter to one end of theband before assembling the same on the cover, and then rigidl at tachthe bracket to the other end 0" the band after the latter is assembledon the more than it is possible to have them vary when a pressed ring isused.

In the alternative form of my invention, shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12,I dis use with the bayonet pins on the base and ubstitute for each pin acover lock 35 of U-' shape the free ends of whose arms are attached tothe base 11 so as to provide a passage 36. The bottom wall of the recess21 is sha d to provide a supplemental recess 38 positioned so that theouter portion of the arm 25 will overlie the same and thus produce aspace 39 between said outer portion of the arm and the bottom of thesupplemental recess 38 adapted to receive the arm connecting portion ofthe related cover lock 35 as the cover is rotated to engage the arm" 25through the assage 36 and establish the locked status the cover. In thisstatus the cover lock 35 surrounds the arm 25 and positively preventsprying of the arm 25 out of operative relation to said element. Flexingof the arm 25 in my alternative form is controlled in the same manner asin the structure disclosed in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, andthe samereference characters are applied to the pin and slot connection betweensaid arm and the cover band.

In Figure 13, I have shown a modified construction for securing thegasket in association with the meter-cover 15 without the necessit ofgluin or cementing the gasket to the cover. To this end I step the sidewall of the groove which is disposed innermost of the band 17, so as toprovide a shoulder 17 spaced from the rim of the cover, the gasket 15being held between said rim and the shoulder as clearly shown. Thisarrangement efi'ectively prevents the gasket from becoming displacedfrom its proper position durin handling of the cover as almost invaria 1occurs when such gasket is not cemented 1n place; while at the same timeavoiding the necessity of indulging in the disagreeable operation ofapplying cement.

I claim: I

1. In an electricity meter, the combination of a base, a cup-shapedcover having a portion telescoping .over the base, bayonet connectionsdetachably locking the cover to the base, each of said connectionsincluding 7 an elastic element having a fportion thereof free to flexindependently o the cover and base, and means permittin flexing of saidportion during locking 0 the connection over a range within its elasticlimit essential to the correct positionin of the cover with respect tothe base but llmiting flexin of said portion be 0nd said range when efort is made to three the cover from the base while the connection islocked.

2. In an electricity meter, the combina-' tion of a base, a cup-shapedcover having a portion telescoping over the base, bayonet connectionsdetachably locking the cover to the base, each of said connectionsincluding an elastic element having a portion thereof free to flexindependently of the cover 'and base, and a pin and slot connectionbetween the cover and said portion permitting flexing of said portionduring locking of the connection over a range within its elastic limitessential to the correct positioning of the cover with respect to thease but limiting flexing of said portion beond said ran 0 when effort ismade to orce the cover rom the base while the connection is locked.

3. In an electricity meter, the combination of a base, a cup-shapedcoverhaving a portion telescopin over the base, and bayonet connectionsetachably locking the cover to the base, one element of each connectionbeing in the form of an eye and the other in the form of an arm whichengages through said eye when the connection is, locked to then securethe elements against relative movement out of cooperas tive relation inall directions except that incident to locking and unlocking theconnection.

4. The combination with an electricity meter cover; of a band carriedthereby, said band being formed of a metal strip encircling the cover, asealing bracket connecting the ends of the strip to complete the band,and means preventing displacement of the band axially of the cover.

' 5. In an electricity meter, the combination of a base, a cup-shapedcover, a metal band carried by the cover and telescoping over the base,said band having diametrical- 1y opposite recesses in its inner face, aplate secured in each recess, each plate being formed to rovid'e anelement of a bayonet connection which cooperates with the wall of itsrelated recess to form a groove, and pins on the base for engaging inrespective grooves and cooperating respectively with the bayonetconnection elements formed by the plates to detachablysecure the coverto the base.-

6. In an electricity meter, the combination of a base, a cup-shapedcover, a metal band carried by the cover and telescoping over the base,said band havin recesses'in its inner face a plate secure in eachrecess, each plate being formed to provide an arm which coo erates withthe wall of its related recess to orm a groove, a pin and slotconnection between the arm and band limiting flexing of the arm to arange within its elastic limit, and pins on the base for engaging inrespective grooves and cooperating respectively with said arms todetachably secure the cover to the base.

' 7. In an electricity meter, the combination of a base, a cup-shapedcover, a metal band carried by the cover and telescoping over the base,said band having major recesses and supplemental recesses within thelimits of said major recesses respectively, a plate secured in eachmajor recess; each plate being formed to provide an arm a portion ofwhich overlies the related supplemental re-- cess and cooperates withthe wall of its re-' lated major recess to form a-groove, and pins onthe base for engaging in respective grooves and cooperating respectivelywith said arms to detachably secure the cover to the base, each of saidpins having a circumscribing flan e extending into the space between thereIated arm. and the bottom wall of its related supplemental recess.

8. In an electricity meter the combination of a base, a cup-shapedcover, a metal band carried by the cover and telescoping over the base,said band having major recesses and supplemental recesses within thelimits of said major recesses respectively, a plate secured in eachmajor recess; each plate being formed to provide an arm a portion ofwhich overlies the related supplemental recess, and U-shaped lockingmembers having their arms secured to the base to provide an'eye throughwhich the arms of res ective plates engage when the cover is 100 ed tothe base, the'arm connecting portion of each locking member moving inthe space between its related arm and the bottom of its relatedsupplemental recess as the cover is operated to its locked and unlockedpositions. f

9. In an electricity. motor meter, the combination with the, base,thereof that constitutes a meter chamber and which is laterally extendedto form a terminal chamber; a cover for the meter chamber; a cover forthe terminal chamber, said covers having upright apertured wings in theregion of and projecting beyond one side of the terminal chamber; and alockin device on the meter base at said side of e'terminal chamber, saiddevice comprising separate parts pivoted on a. common axis whichisparallel to the planes of said wings one end of one part of this lockingdevice bein projectable throu h the aperture in one 0 said wings, and te remamin part of 'the locking device being projectab e through theaperture in the other wing. Y

10. In an electricit meter, the combination of a base, a cu -s apedcover whose rim is laterally exten ed to form a flange, a

metal band surroundin the cover and having a groove in which t e flangeis received, and a portion adapted to telescope over the base, the sidewallofsaid-groove which is innermost the band being stepped to form a,.

pocket at one side of the groove for the reception of a gasket.

11. In an electricity meter, the combination of a base, a cup-shapedcover having a portion telescoping .over the base, bayonet connectionsdetachabl locking the coverto' the base, and means e ective when each39nnection is locked to secure the elements thereof against relativemovement out of cooperative relation in a direction radially of thecover, said means and the cooperating elements of the connection beinglocated entirely between the inner face of the cover and the outer faceof the base.

12. In an electricity meter, the combination of a base, a. cup-shapedcover having ALBERT L. EMENS.

